Defence Committee: Armed Forces and Veterans Mental Health Inquiry. Part One

Abstract

Executive Summary

• MoD provides an occupational military mental health service, where clinical decisions are safety critical due to the environment in which armed forces personnel operate.

• Statistics provided from defense are accurate, however, trying to contextualise them by comparing them with the wider population is problematic, as the threshold for referral is much lower.

• Only 8% of UK veterans were correctly registered at a PHC practice.

• Military mental health practice is unique, and to understand the issues facing current service provision, the statistical data needs to be annually supplemented with purposeful qualitative data from those working in defence mental health.

• A priority should be afforded to the inclusion of veteran peer researchers within studies to improve sample selection, interpretation and understanding of results.

• There needs to be an agenda to broaden methodological expertise and cooperation within the sector and a move away from a predominately one-dimensional research approach. The only way that the questions in this enquiry will be answered, is through a multiple methods and multiple institution collaboration.